- #1
sxal96
- 15
- 1
Hey everyone! I'm currently an undergraduate student double majoring in Mathematics and Biomedical Physics at a CSU. Lately I've been getting a lot of negative prospects on potential graduate school options because of the fact that I apparently am set up for failure for attending a CSU (based on the words of someone leading a mentoring program I'm participating in). I'm conflicted about what schools I should apply to once I'm done with undergrad and if I should even bother getting a PhD because now I feel like I'm not really good competition compared to students that attended UCs or other more prestigious schools. I also am uncomfortable with the notion that my likelihood of admission into any program will depend more on the fact that I am female and an ethnic minority, again according to the aforementioned person :/
I still have at least two years until I graduate, but I'm more than willing to work my ass off even harder than I already have been to become a competitive applicant when the time comes around. I start my medical physics specific coursework this fall so I'm not sure quite yet what I want to go into, but so far my interest is in research vs. working at a hospital. Here's what I currently stand:
I haven't taken the GRE and I noticed that a lot of programs only require the general test, but should I still try with the Physics subject test? I'm not a good test taker in general so I'm scared shitless for the subject test lol. I'm also worried that the med phys courses will not adequately provide background for me to prepare for the test. I'm down to take the Math subject test just for my own amusement.
I know I need to eventually start doing research in the field but I tried applying to REUs and didn't get into them, and I don't want to approach one of the professors at my school without relevant background knowledge from some courses. I may also extend graduation by a semester or two (for a total of 5 years) because I want to do well in my classes and I don't want to go insane with the workload. Will this be frowned upon when I apply or will no one really care? I also am wondering if I should bother with a Masters or just go straight into PhD? I don't have the financial resources for both. What GPA would be safest regarding whether or not my application will be discarded? Is there anything I should try to do to improve my CV?
Any advice or guidance would be immensely appreciated. I'm super frightened (if that wasn't obvious by this massive wall of text). I'm on the dumber side compared to my peers in physics but I'm hardworking and willing to do what I can to become a medical physicist :D
I still have at least two years until I graduate, but I'm more than willing to work my ass off even harder than I already have been to become a competitive applicant when the time comes around. I start my medical physics specific coursework this fall so I'm not sure quite yet what I want to go into, but so far my interest is in research vs. working at a hospital. Here's what I currently stand:
- 3.897 cumulative GPA because I am dumb and messed up by being lazy and getting B's in vector calc and introductory mechanics
- Math GPA of 3.809
- Biomedical Physics GPA of 3.727
- Top 7.5% of the Junior class as a second year student
- Starting math-related research this fall
- Taken programming classes for engineering mapping, C++, and MATLAB
I haven't taken the GRE and I noticed that a lot of programs only require the general test, but should I still try with the Physics subject test? I'm not a good test taker in general so I'm scared shitless for the subject test lol. I'm also worried that the med phys courses will not adequately provide background for me to prepare for the test. I'm down to take the Math subject test just for my own amusement.
I know I need to eventually start doing research in the field but I tried applying to REUs and didn't get into them, and I don't want to approach one of the professors at my school without relevant background knowledge from some courses. I may also extend graduation by a semester or two (for a total of 5 years) because I want to do well in my classes and I don't want to go insane with the workload. Will this be frowned upon when I apply or will no one really care? I also am wondering if I should bother with a Masters or just go straight into PhD? I don't have the financial resources for both. What GPA would be safest regarding whether or not my application will be discarded? Is there anything I should try to do to improve my CV?
Any advice or guidance would be immensely appreciated. I'm super frightened (if that wasn't obvious by this massive wall of text). I'm on the dumber side compared to my peers in physics but I'm hardworking and willing to do what I can to become a medical physicist :D